Follow by Email

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Virgin Territory by Lia Riley - Book Review, Interview and Giveaway

Review by Suze
Patch is a talented NHL goalie, but he's risking his position in the Hellions Angels team because he can't keep his temper under control. To make him feel calmer Patch's coach sends him to private yoga lessons. Patch doesn't like this idea at all, but he doesn't have much choice, if he wants to keep playing he has to give it a shot. Margot, his teacher, surprises him though. Will Patch and yoga appear to be a good match and can she help him to manage his anger?

Margot's love life only consists of disasters. The last man she dated doesn't want to accept she's done with their relationship and keeps bothering her. Margot is ready for a change in life, her friends have steady boyfriends and she wants someone to love and cherish and not feel miserable with for a change. She'd rather have no man at all than to go through that again. When she meets Patch there's an instant attraction. However, he's a client and she should remain professional. Will she listen to her heart and give the brooding man a chance and what will happen when she finds out his secrets?

Virgin Territory is a great sexy romance. Patch has a good heart, but he hides it behind sky high walls. He doesn't have many loved ones and it isn't easy for him to let people in. Margot finds a way to get past all of his defences and he shows her the real Patch, which was incredibly endearing. He's a sweet guy underneath the gruff exterior. Margot's free and sassy spirit perfectly complements his too serious character and they're a fabulous challenging match. I couldn't wait to find out if they'd have a chance at happiness and read their fascinating love story in one sitting.

Lia Riley's fast-paced descriptive writing style always manages to captivate me straight away. She skillfully gets to the bottom of the emotions her main characters are going through and that gives her stories the exact right amount of depth. I loved how she combines tough athletes, who are secretly quite vulnerable, with strong, capable women. It's a combination that works really well. Virgin Territory is another fantastic Hellions Angels story that I enjoyed reading very much. I highly recommend this amazing series.

Advice

If you love reading romance with gorgeous athletic heroes and fierce heroines you should definitely read the Hellions Angels series. The books can easily be read as standalones.

Interview

1) Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I’m a small-town girl who now lives on the edge of a big city (San Francisco). I’m lucky to live close to the beach and redwood forests, raise three kids that keep me on my toes and have recently rescued a Labrador Retriever who is equal parts crazy and loveable. I can’t live without coffee, libraries or my iPhone.

2) What inspired you to write sports romance and why have you chosen hockey?

I like to take myself out of my comfort zone. In truth, I’m least athletic person ever so the idea of writing about sports gods felt like a fun challenge. As for hockey, love seems better on ice!

3) Can you tell a bit more about the Hellions Angels?

I wanted to do a sports series that celebrated fandoms. I love when anyone, but especially women, get a chance to nerd out on a topic that brings them pure joy. So I decided to do a sports series from the perspective of hockey super fans.

4) You love writing happy endings, what’s the best thing about them?

It’s 2018. If you don’t require happy endings then you might not have a heart.

5) What does true love mean to you?

It means taking and treasuring a person as they are—for all their perfect imperfections.

6) Your main characters always have original character traits, where do you find the inspiration for them?

I think I just like to write about women that I’d like to know and hang out with—which means they need to be self-deprecating, ambitious, loving and kind. As for the men, I like to write in a bit of damage that they need to overcome to earn the love of an awesome woman

7) Are your hockey players based on real athletes? And which team are you a fan of yourself?

Nope! I whipped them up in the kitchen of my mind. And I like to cheer for the San Jose Sharks, the Minnesota Wild, and the Detroit Red Wings.

8) How did your writing journey start?

At the age of six when I wrote a poem about god (rhymes great with cherry cake) that got hung on the wall next to the coffee maker. I got hooked and never looked back.

9) You mainly write series, how does this writing process work?

Ah series. The good, the bad, and the ugly! I love building a world that doesn’t disappear when the book finishes. Plus it’s fun to take peeks at other characters. But it also means that what you create in one book, you commit to in a future one. My process is lots of scrambled notes, coffee and occasional tears.

10) What are your plans for the future?

Single title baby! I am currently working on an idea that is very different to anything I’ve done before. I’m taking my time—really needed this summer vacation—and hopefully I can share good news soon.

About Lia Riley

Lia Riley is a contemporary romance author. USA Today describes her as "refreshing" and RT Book Reviews calls her books "sizzling and heartfelt." She loves her husband, three kids, wandering redwood forests and a perfect pour over coffee. She is 25% sarcastic, 54% optimistic, and 122% bad at math (good thing she writes happy endings for a living). She and her family live mostly in Northern California.